Shackle bolt



l 1,632,663 June l14. 1927 vJ, MlDGLEY SHACKLE BOLT Filed Jan. 23, 1926 l| Klum' ykatented June 14, 1927.

' UNITED STATES 4PATENT oFFI-CE.

JOSEPH MIDGLEY, OF BRAINEBD, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ON'E-T-HIB'D T0 50ml' GEESEBBOUGE, OF D'UL'UTH, MINNESOTA,- AND ONE-THIRD TO T.

v IIBIEO'U'GIE, Ol' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

L." Bossen. cursasHAcxLn Bom".

appmaaon mea January as, 192e. serial m. sam.

tribution of the wear on the movable partsl over a large areav of bearing surface.

It is a further object to provide a shackle especially adapted for motor vehicles having spaced frame or side members provided with A sets of oppositelydisposed tapered trunnions and bushings carried by the springs and frame 4of the motor vehicle or other device having tapered end portions adapted 2 to conform to the shape of said trunnions,

whereby the trunnions and bushings may always be tightly seated although nevertheless capable of turning relative to each other.

A still further object is to provide said frame members with resilient mean whereby the same will be clamped toget er with suicient excess elasticity to take up pllay between the tapered trunnions and bus 'ngs as said parts become worn;

These and other objects of the invention with be apparent from the following description made in connection with the accom-A panying drawings wherein like characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in whlchzy Fig. lis a front elevation of the preferred form of the device, some parts being broken away and shown in section, the end yportion Aof a spring being shown in dotted lines; 4 Fig. 2 is a view partially in front elevation and partly in vertical section of a modied form of shackle; and 4 v Fig.'3 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig.'2.

In the preferred form ofthe device illus-y ltrated in Fig. 1, a pair of spaced frame members or bars 4 are provided having preferably flat outer ysides and adapted to be alined and disposed in parallel relation. These bars 4 are constructed from steel or other metal having a comparatively high 'degree of resiliency. Adjacent either end of each of said frame members 4, 1s a tapered trunnion 5 preferably formed integrally with its frame member. These trunnions` 5 are o ftruncated conical shape, the pitch of the sides .thereof being preferably. from to 80 degrees. A pair of oppositely projecting sleeves. 6 are provided centrally located on the mner sides of the bars 4. These sleeves are of relatively wide diameter, having smooth outer surfaces.- A headed' bolt 7 is passed through the sleeves 6 of the two frame members 4, having its threaded end engaged by means of a nut 8 lengaging the outer surface of one of frame members 4. Nut 8 is provided with a wedge 8b or some other means for locking the same to bolt 7. Between the two ends 'of sleeves 6 a plurality u of shims 9 or other annular elements, are

interposed, spacing said sleeves slightly apart when said members are clamped together by the bolt 7. t A

Bushings 10, adapted to be driven in, keyed to, or otherwise secured to springs '11, and the frame of the motor vehicle or other device shown in dotted lines, are super-imposed on trunnions `5. These bushlngs l0 have their outer end portions recessed to form tapered lbearing surfaces conforming to the shape of trunnions 5. For lconvenlence in attaching said bushings to the Thickened portions or flanges 10" are provided at the outer ends of bushings 10.

' Operation.

springs, the bushings are made lin two parts.

4 The attachment of this form of the device to the vehicle springs and frame is exceedinglg simple. The bushings 10 are first rigl ly secured to the sockets or loops formed in the spring and frame of the motor vehicle or other device, as illustrated, one of said .bushings being driven in from either side thereo AThe frame' members 4 or sides of the shackle are then attached with the trunhions 5 seated in bushings 10. The tapered recesses of bushings 10 serve to aline the varions oppositely disposed parts of f the shackle. The frame members 4 of the shackle are made of resilient steel and it will be noticed that these members are suiiiciently thin-in ortions thereof to permit the same to bes lghtly iexed when the two frame members are clamped together. One or more shims or other annular members are interposed between the ends of sleeves-6 and the bolt 7 is then inserted from said sleeves.`

The frame members 4 may be then clamped together by tightening the lock nut 8. The device is so constructed that when the trunnions 5 are tightly seated within bushings .i 10,l the ends of sleeves 6 will be spaced slightly apart. A single shim or pair of shims placed between `the ends of sleeves 6 will permit the frame members to be clamped together, liexing slightly the central portions thereof. As the trunnions and bushings become worn, the resilient action of frame members 4 will cause trunnions 5 to be snugly seated in bushings 10, automatically taking up for wear. When the working parts are worn to-such an extent that members 4 are no longer flexed, the bolt 7 may be removed and one of the shims taken out, whereupon the ends of sleeves 6 will be again yspaced apart and the members may be clamped tightly together by bolt 7 to give the excess tension needed to automatically take up for wear. It has been found through experimentation that it will not be necessary to remove one of these shims for over a year, assuming the motor vehicle to have been given normal use.

It is a well known fact that the hardest wear on a shackle occurs adjacent the frame members on the bolt or trunnions. Applicant has provided tapered trunnions with their larger ends disposed at the points receiving the greatest wear. The wear will thus be equally distributed over the large area of wearing surface afforded by trunnions and bushings.

It will be seen thatvthe shims act merely as spacers to limit the flexing of the frame members 4 and to permit the roper spaced relation between the ends of s eeves 6 to be maintained.

Applicant has thoroughly 'tested his device and has found that when a two ton side pressure is exertedon the frame members 4, nevertheless the bushings 10 will turn readily as required on trunnions 5.

The modied form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 2 and3 is essentially similar tothe form above described. Spaced frame members 4*. are provided, carrying on their inner sides adjacent their outer ends, the tapered trunnions 5*. Trunnions 5, however, are recessed to permit the nutted bolts 12 to be inserted therethrough, adapted to clam their ends and said frame members 4B '1 toget er. Bushings 10a are provided, adaptlframe members, oppositel Frame members 4a are constructed of steel or other metal with a considerable degree of resiliency and are sufficiently thin to permit of a slight compression when clamped together tightly by means of bolt 8a. This resiliency, resisting the clamping action of said bolt, is sufficient to cause any play between trunnions 5a and bushings 10l to be automatically taken up as the mutually engaged surfaces become worn.

When this form of the device is put on, the bushings 10 are, of course, first rigidly secured to the springs and frame members of the vehicle, after which the side or frame members of the shackle 4 are nested in the opposite ends thereof.l Bolts 12 are next passed through the recesses in trunnions 5EL and are tightened sufficiently to take up the play between said parts. The main bolt 7a is then inserted through the alined recesses in frame members 4 and securely tightened to put the right amount of tension on frame members 4B.

From the above description it will be seen that applicant has invented a simple but highly eiicient antirattling shackle for vehicles capable of automatically taking up for wear and constructed to withstand hard usa e. The wearing qualit of the devices is of t e best since the distri ution of wear is equalized over a large area of bearing surface and since the ends of the bushings subjected to the greatest wear are eontactedby tapered trunnions fitting therewithin.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the details,

form, proportions and arrangement of parts without departing from the scope of this in-.

vention.

While the shackle is especially adapted for motor vehicles it is of course obvious that the invention disclosed herein is equally lapplicable to shackles for other devices and machines.

What is claimed is:

1. A shackle of the character described having in combination a pair of spaced alined ta ered trunnions on the inner si es of said ame members, means interposed between said trunnions ada ted to space said frame members apart an provided with tapered seats surrounding said trunnions, said frame members bein resilient, and means for forcing the media portionsof said frame members together to ex the same and automatically compensate for wear on said trunnions and seats.

2. A shackle of the character described having in combination a pair of spaced frame members, oppositely alined ta ered trunnions adjacent the ends of said game members, means interposed between said trunnions ada ted to space said frame members apart and provided with tapered seats surroundin said trunnions, and transversely said frame -members together and flex the disposed a justable clamping means engaga same whereby suicient excess tension will 36 ing the medial portions of said frame members adapted to flex the same to automaticall compensate for wear on said bearing sur aces. i.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, and means for limiting the flexing of said frame members.

4. A shackle of the character described u having in combination a pair of spaced resilient frame members, oppositely alined trunnions ad'acent the ends of said framemembers, bus ings interposed bet-Ween said trunnions adapted to space said frame members apart, and adjustable means engaging the outer sides of the medial portions of said frame members adapted to flex said frame members to compensate .for wear on said trunnions and bushings. l j

5. A shackle of the character described havin in combination a pair of spaced resilient rame members, sets of oppositely alined tapered trunnions carried on the inner sides of said frame members adjacent the ends thereof, bushings .having tapered bearing seats adapted to surround said sets of trunnions to space the same apart, oppositely4 and centralljT disposed sleeves on the inner sides of sald frame members, removable spacing means interposed between the ends of said sleeves and a bolt assed through said sleeves, adapted to adJustably clamp be put on said frame membersto take up the play between said trunnions and .bushings as said last mentioned Worn. v

6. The structure set forth in claim 4, and

opposite'ly alined lugs carried by the medial` portions of said frame members adapted to contact each other to limit the 'flexing of said frame members.

7. A shackle of the character described having in 'combination a pair of 'spaced substantially resilient frame members, opposietly alined tapered trunnions adjacent the 'ends of said frame members, a bushing dis,-

posed between each set of said trunnions parts become adapted to space said frame members apart A and provided withtapered seats surrounding said trunnions, oppositel alined sleeves or hollow lugs medially carried by said frame members, a bolt passing through said lugs transversely of said frame members adapted todraw said frame members -slightly together to flex the same, the inner ends of said sleeves or lugs limiting the flexing of said frame members.`

8. The structure set forth in claim 7 and a removable spacer` member adapted to bev 

